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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003220
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2017
TAGS: ECONPGOVPRELMARRBLVN
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN PLANE CONTROVERSY GOES INTERNATIONAL
REF: A. LA PAZ 3153
¶B. LA PAZ 3013
Classified By: ECOPOL Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: Although facts are emerging, rumors continue
to run rampant concerning the aborted landing of a Venezuelan
C-130 Hercules airplane. Forced to leave one Bolivian town
by a rock-wielding mob, the plane was unable to land at
another Bolivian town as protesters blocked the runway. A
Venezuelan Development Bank Official was left behind to face
an angry opposition crowd, who claimed he was shuttling
$800,000 for nefarious purposes. The plane finally emergency
landed in Rio Branco, Brazil to refuel. Although the
Brazilians officially state there were no weapons aboard,
some in the opposition continue to believe there were weapons
aboard or that the crew ditched cargo en route to the
Brazilian airport. Opposition leaders claim privately that
the Brazilians never opened the cargo, an allegation
confirmed by Brazilian Military Attach Officers to Embassy
DATT. Brazilian DATT Officers also said Venezuela has
requested regular use of Rio Branco. Irrespective of the
incident, opposition leaders argue Venezuelan planes are
landing in Bolivia in flagrant disregard of Bolivian
sovereignty and without the Constitutionally-required
permission of the opposition-controlled Senate. Meanwhile,
the Bolivian and Venezuelan governments have blamed the U.S.
End Summary.
Just the Facts
--------------
¶2. (U) A Venezuelan C-130 Hercules cargo plane departed El
Alto airport near La Paz the morning of December 6. It
landed in Riberalta, Beni Department (state), near the
Brazilian border, at about 1100. The plane was on the ground
only a short time before an angry crowd of at least 200
pelted the plane and crew with rocks. The crew made a hasty
departure at about 1130 and left a passenger behind from the
Venezuelan Development Bank (BANDES). The crew tried to land
the plane at Beni's capital of Trinidad, but were denied a
safe landing approach by opposition forces blocking the
runway. Opposition forces also blocked runways in
Guayaramerin (Beni) and Cobija (Pando). The plane asked for
and was granted permission for an emergency landing in Rio
Branco, Brazil, at about 1500. Although the plane was
granted permission to leave Rio Branco at 1700, it stayed
until the morning of December 7 waiting for funds to pay for
fuel. These events have been covered widely by the press and
confirmed by the government. Details concerning the number
of Venezuelans on board, contents of the plane's cargo, and
the mission of the BANDES official remain contested.
Brazil: No Arms, No Ammo, No Problem
------------------------------------
¶3. (U) The Brazilian National Police released a statement
December 7 that there were 35 passengers and crew, including
33 Venezuelan military, but claimed it found no weapons in
the plane. The Brazilians added they did not know the
plane's mission. The Brazilian Aeronautics Communication
Center told the media it considered the case "closed."
Brazilian President Inacio Lula da Silva's press secretary
was quoted in the Bolivian press saying that if "it is
necessary" the Brazilian Government would "ask for an
explanation," although it considers the incident a matter for
Bolivian and Venezuelan authorities.
¶4. (C) The Brazilian Embassy told EmbOffs December 7 that
Brazil simply granted the plane emergency landing to refuel,
per a request from the Venezuelan Embassy in La Paz. They
claimed no Venezuelans were on board beyond the crew and that
22 helicopter crew replacements had been off-loaded in La Paz
prior to the incident.
Lingering Opposition Suspicions
-------------------------------
¶5. (C) Opposition Senators Roger Pinto and Paulo Bravo
canceled a meeting with us December 7 in order to catch an
early-morning flight to Rio Branco with journalists. They
relayed through intermediary Javier Flores that some
opposition leadership in Beni and Pando states originally
thought the plane was incoming from Venezuela and therefore
had the fuel needed to "escape" back to Venezuela after its
hostile reception in Riberalta. This prompted a flurry of
phone calls from opposition leaders to convince Brazilian
leadership to ground the plane and investigate its contents,
including a call from Flores to the Brazilian Assistant
Executive Defense Secretary and a call from Pinto to "the
number two" at the Brazilian Presidential Palace (he would
not specify who this was). (Note: Lula advisor Marco Aurelio
Garcia was in La Paz when this incident occurred in advance
of Lula's planned visit December 16-17. End Note.) Flores
said the plane's crew requested an emergency landing and
landed without incident, but that two Brazilian fighter
planes were en route to enforce the request in case they
resisted. According to a read-out from Senator Bravo at Rio
Branco December 8, Flores said the Brazilians were not
allowed to inspect the contents of the cargo under
international law because it requested an emergency landing
and was not forced to land. Although the opposition has not
pushed the issue publicly, Flores said the Brazilian
"inspection" consisted of asking the Venezuelans what was on
board. He added a Bolivian plane came to pay for the
Venezuelan plane's fuel with $30,000.
¶6. (C) Brazilian Military Attach officers confirmed to
Embassy DATT December 10 that the Venezuelans invoked the
right to refuse inspection. Although they did not look
inside the boxes, the Brazilian DATT officers found the
crates "suspicious." According the Brazilian DATT officers,
the Venezuelans confirmed the cargo was destined for
Riberalta and Trinidad, per their original flight plan.
Brazilian DATT Officers also said Venezuela has requested
regular use of Rio Branco as a refueling stopover in the
future out of concerns it cannot depend on use of airstrips
in the Media Luna (eastern, opposition-dominated states).
Did the Crew Drop Cargo?
------------------------
¶7. (C) Flores also claimed that the crew dumped "most" of its
cargo en route, a story repeated by other opposition sources.
He has since backed away from the statement, saying only
that "it is possible" and that opposition sympathizers were
combing the jungle along the probable flight path for
evidence. He said this could take many days and could be
inconclusive. An officer with the Brazilian Defense
Attach's Office told us the plane arrived with "little
cargo." He confirmed Brazilian authorities were
investigating the plane and said if cargo was dropped, it is
likely on the Brazilian side.
Bolivian/Venezuelan Govts Can't Get Story Straight
--------------------------------------------- -----
¶8. (U) Many of details of the incident continue to be debated
and contradicted. Although the Brazilians eventually counted
35 Venezuelans, Brazilian media reported 40 military officers
were on board. Although a Bolivian Air Force official
claimed the craft was carrying 12 Venezuelan pilots and
technical crew in additional to the C-130 crew, both the
Bolivian and Venezuelan governments claimed December 7 that
there were 22 Venezuelan helicopter pilots and technicians.
¶9. (U) Brazilian media also cited unnamed Brazilian Police
sources as verifying the plane was carrying arms destined for
the Bolivian military. Commander of the Army Freddy Bersatti
said he only found out about the flight December 6, but that
the plane was only returning to Venezuela and not carrying
anything to the best of his knowledge. The government had
initially claimed the plane was carrying humanitarian
assistance/medicine. Presidency Minister (Chief of Staff)
Juan Quintana later said it was carrying helicopter
replacement parts and "some objects." On December 7, the
Venezuelan Embassy claimed the cargo was "electrical cables"
and over the weekend government and Venezuelan Embassy
sources claimed the plane was carrying "communications gear."
Although Minister of Public Works Jose Kinn admitted that
the flight was "not regular," the Bolivian Air Force later
claimed the flight request has made November 30 and approved
December 3.
BANDES Bagman Carrying Agreement, Not Cash
------------------------------------------
¶10. (U) The opposition originally claimed Luis Klein Ferrer,
the Venezuelan Development Bank (BANDES) official left behind
in Riberalta, was carrying a briefcase with $827,000 in cash,
ostensible to distribute for nefarious purposes. Although
opposition Senator Walter Guiteras (PODEMOS) repeated this
claim, Beni Regional Police Commander Col. Miguel Angel
Villarroel reported Klein was instead carrying an $870,000
agreement to fund a nut cultivation project. The government
originally claimed Klein was depositing a check for $827,000
in a local bank for the nut project, per normal BANDES
business. Villarroel reported Klein was driving away from
the airport to meet with a local civic group to sign the
agreement when a group of opposition supporters stopped the
vehicle and began to interrogate and beat Klein. Villarroel
alleges he rescued Klein, brought him to the police station,
and sent him out the back door to be escorted to safety by
Bolivian military. Bolivian Vice-Minister of Citizen
Security Marcos Farfan accused the opposition of torturing
and attempting to lynch Klein and praised the police for
"saving the life of this Venezuelan official."
¶11. (C) The Bolivian press has been scrutinizing the
background of the BANDES official Luis Klein Ferrer based on
his ties to Venezuelan military intelligence and role
investigating possible conspiracy in the ranks. Captain
Klein was the Venezuelan Assistant Defense Attach in La Paz
in 2006. While ADATT, Klein was apparently so hostile to the
U.S. that we complained to the Venezuelans. Klein was
eventually transferred to the Venezuelan Development Bank in
La Paz.
Spin Begins: Why Not Blame the U.S.?
------------------------------------
¶12. (U) Bolivian, Venezuelan, and Cuban government officials
are painting the incident as a savage attack on foreign
citizens by an unreasonable opposition, and hinted that the
U.S. is behind it all. Evo Morales apologized to the
Venezuelan government for the incident in a December 6 TV
interview and implied that the aircraft attackers were
working with others "from outside" (implying other opposition
departments or even another country, i.e. the U.S.). Morales
promised to find and punish those responsible. Vice-Minister
of citizen Security Marcos Farfan said December 7 that the
government had already identified the perpetrators and were
preparing legal action against them.
¶13. (U) Farfan said the citizens of Riberalta were always
hospitable before, leading him to believe "these violent
attitudes are generated by groups from outside the area."
Bolivian Minister of the Presidency Juan Quintana blamed the
opposition for "generating a climate of tension." Government
Minister Alfredo Rada accused opposition leaders and PODOMOS
party head Jorge Tuto Quiroga of planning the confrontation
to "create the image that the country is being invaded" and
"encouraging an atmosphere of xenophobic hysteria against
Venezuelan military officials." Bolivian Vice-Minister of
Citizen Security Marcos Farfan scolded protesters for
endangering the Venezuelans and almost causing a "grave
accident." Cuban Ambassador Rafael Dauza chimed in, saying
"the only thing they wanted was to refuel."
¶14. (U) Bolivian press reported that Saul Ortega, Chairman of
the International Affairs Committee for the Venezuelan
National Assembly, said that 22 Venezuelans were attacked
with projectiles on Bolivian soil when they were trying to
board an plane belonging to the Venezuelan Armed Forces while
providing help during a natural disaster. Ortega accused
Santa Cruz Prefect (governor) Ruben Costas for the attack,
and characterized him as a lackey of the United States.
"These are violent actions that have been perpetrated by the
opponents of Evo Morales and, for this reason, are terrorist
actions." He asserted "these acts against Venezuelans" are
financed by the U.S. and that "the opposition had received
instruction from the U.S. Embassy and CIA" to carry them out.
Ortega stressed the "terrorist" attack put the crew and
aircraft in mortal jeopardy and would ask the Bolivian
government to guarantee the security of Venezuelan citizens.
No Apologies from Obstinate Opposition
--------------------------------------
¶15. (C) Opposition PODEMOS party leader Jorge Quiroga replied
to government criticism December 9 by criticizing Brazilian
President Inacio Lula da Silva's "disinterest and silence as
planes with elite Venezuelan military enter (Bolivia),
violating our national sovereignty and taking refuge" in Rio
Branco. Quiroga added he hoped the power of Chavez was not
"of the magnitude that obliges Brazil to be a silent
accomplice to what is occurring" in Bolivia. Quiroga hopes
Lula will raise with Evo concerns about Bolivia's democracy
and Venezuelan intervention when he visits La Paz December
16-17.
¶16. (U) The Riberalta Civic Committee President is taking a
hard line on the issue, telling press that they will not
permit any more Venezuelan planes to land. This position
tracks with the November 29 announcement from Beni Prefect
(governor) Ernesto Suarez that Venezuelan planes would not be
allowed to land in Trinidad. (Note: There is a history of
opposition accusations the Venezuelans are shipping in arms,
perhaps destined for unofficial pro-government
paramilitaries. The opposition also complained about an
early morning Beni stopover by Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez as an affront to Bolivian sovereignty reported in Ref
¶B. End Note.) The Riberalta Civic Committee is also calling
for the resignation of the Police Chief Villarroel for
helping Klein escape before he could fully explain the
motives for his trip.
Senate: Troop Movements Violate Constitution
-------------------------------------------
¶17. (U) The opposition-controlled Bolivian Senate has asked
Minister of Defense Walker San Miguel to explain why foreign
troops (i.e. Venezuelan) are entering Bolivia without Senate
approval, as required by the Constitution. Responding to
President Morales' December 6 apology for not consulting the
Senate on foreign troop movements, opposition Senator Luis
Vasques Villamor (PODEMOS) said, "The subject of apologizing
to one or another is not relevant. The President, despite
his apology, is responsible for violating the Constitution."
Comment:
--------
¶18. (C) The opposition in the Media Luna is likely to follow
the lead of Trinidad and Riberalta and adopt measures to
prevent Venezuelan aircraft from landing at their airports.
This would deny Morales a source of support and make a
popular stand on the issue of Venezuelan "imperialism." Such
a move, however, would ratchet up the prospects for violent
confrontations with the government. This latest incident
reflects the opposition's determination to try to put a stop
to Venezuelan "interference" and illustrates the Bolivia
Government's inability to exercise control over opposition
dominated departments.
¶19. (C) Comment Continued: Whether by design or incompetency,
the government appears to be responding no better or
consistently to this incident than the earlier Chavez
stopover or Trinidad mystery crates incidents. However,
unlike prior middle of the night stopovers followed by days
of "he said, she said" tit for tat between government and
opposition leaders, a third party, Brazil, has negated
opposition accusation of weapons transfers. Unless the
opposition can back up claims to the contrary, it may well
end up looking unreasonable. If there were in fact no arms,
Evo may have lost an opportunity to invite the press to look
in the plane and take the wind out of opposition criticisms.
In any event, the government is on the defensive and remains
vulnerable to the perception that Chavez is the one calling
the shots. Evo will have to be careful about how his
government handles future Venezuelan flights or risk losing
domestic, and possibly international, support. End Comment.
GOLDBERG